Background
The son of George Bartholomew, engraver (1784–1871), John founded the engraving and mapmaking firm of John Bartholomew and Son Limited. in 1826.
The son of George Bartholomew, engraver (1784–1871), John founded the engraving and mapmaking firm of John Bartholomew and Son Limited. in 1826.
He was a veritable master copper plate engraver. He engraved some fine maps for local firms, such as street maps for Lizars, others for the Encyclopædia Britannica and for some educational publishers like A & C Black. He was commissioned to engrave the map of Treasure Island for Robert Louis Stevenson.
John Senior was the ideal person to inaugurate what became one of the most admired cartographic institutions in the world.
A man of high standards, as were his successors. He was a superb engraver, engraving becoming the foundation of the firm.
Lithography would follow later. He also had the vision to recognise the potential for the firm.
In 1832-1833 James was living at 4 East Street James Street (demolished to build the Street James Centre).
He was a shy man, holding back from public life.